Cup of Soup drew clear for a 2 ¾-length victory in Friday’s featured $21,400 Copiers Northwest Purse for 3-year-old fillies at Emerald Downs.
Ridden by Juan Gutierrez, Cup of Soup ran one mile in 1:37.97 and paid $26.40, $8.80 and $3.60.
A Kentucky-bred by Einstein, Cup of Soup is developing into the track’s Rodney Dangerfield filly—in three starts, she has victories at odds of 11-1 and 12-1,and a third at 15-1. Friday, she stalked Quibble and Bella Colomba to midway on the last turn, swept to the lead into the lane, and rolled home uncontested for the victory.
Caliente Gold, the even-money favorite ridden by Julien Couton, finished well for second place and paid $3 and $2.40. A maiden racing against winners, Caliente Gold now has two seconds and a third in three career starts.
Belle Colomba, ridden by Jose Zunino, held third and paid $3.40 to show. Suite One, Zippinaroundtown, Ritzy Tags and Quibble completed the order of finish.
Cup of Soup began her career in Texas, but she raced mainly in Arizona before arriving at Emerald Downs this spring. Trainer Manny Ortiz claimed her two races back for $7,500, with Friday’s win yielding a tidy $11,550 payday for owners Thomas Glasgow, Ezra Lee Craig and Ramiro Meraz-Martinez
NOTES: Trainer Manny Ortiz is 10-for-28 in his first season at Emerald Downs, and said he plans to return again next year. . .Buddy Dave ($9.20) regained the lead as the track’s leading active winner with his 16th victory at Emerald Downs with a come-from-behind triumph in race four. An 8-year-old Kentucky-bred by Five Star Day, Buddy Dave has been owned by Kingsport Syndicate and trained by Vince Gibson throughout the gelding’s 65-race career. . .Trainer Howard Belvoir clicked a notch closer to 2,000 career wins when Mary Lois ($10.60) rallied to win race three under Jennifer Whitaker. Belvoir now has 1,997 career wins and, with five horses entered Saturday and Sunday, could reach the milestone this weekend. . .Belvoir is No. 3 all-time with 678 wins at Emerald Downs, and Whitaker has been up for 318 of them. . .Favorites were 0-for-13 the last two Fridays untilGrindster ($3.40) rallied to win the Friday nightcap. . .Even with the favorite prevailing in the finale, the $0.50 Pick 5 paid a healthy $9,371, second largest of the meet. . .Juan Gutierrez was the only rider with two wins and took over sole possession of second place with 47 wins, one more than Leslie Mawing. . .Julien Couton rode one winner to push his meet-leading total to 58 wins. . .Live racing continues Saturday with first post 2 p.m.
